Sporting Items.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 53, 30 July 1891, Page 7

Sporting Items.

J. B. Williamson left on Monday last for Christchurch. Dudu was scratched for the New Zealand Cup last Saturday, July 25th, at 3 p.m. The Gisborne Racing Club intend holding a two day’s meeting in October next. The Wellington Racing Club cleared over their recent Steeplechase Meeting. In about a week’s time Ramage, “ old Jack's ” jockey, hopes to be able to dispense with his crutches.

Theorem, and Begorra, are to be taken to Christchurch for the Grand National meeting, to be held on the 13th prox. The Dunedin Jockey Club are making a new track between the tan and middle tracks at Forbury. Le Loup arrived at Napier last week, and will be used for stud purposes by Captain Russell and Hon. J. D. Ormond.

Crackshot, the Auckland Cup winner, is now being trained by Charlie O’Connor, while Billy White generally rides him in his work. The Rangitikei Hunt Club have fixed Sept. 3rd, for this years annual Steeplechase meeting. The nominations for the same are due on the 17th August. The names of Medallion, Scots Grey, and Silver Knight appear amongst the list of entries for the Australian Jockey Club’s Metropolitan Stakes.

Mr. F‘ D. Luckie, secretary of the Hawkes Bay Jockey Club, has returned to his home in Napier, after attending the meeting of the Conference at Wellington. Mr. F. Stohr of New Plymouth, who it will be remembered was here some time ago with the hurdle horse Cracksman, intends settling in Melbourne.

The filly by Trenton—Black Swan has been named Lady Trenton. If good deeds and breeding go for anything, she should be a real clinker.

“ Mazeppa,” in the Otago Witness, fancies at present the following for the New Zealand Cup : —Tirailleur, Cissy, Strephon, Blizzard, Cajolery, and Tassy, and prefers the two former. Mr. “ Kurp’s ” late purchase, Yardman, is reported to have broken down badly, and it is a question if he will ever be fit to run another race.

The annual general meeting of the Auckland Racing Club will be held at the Club’s offices, Durham-street, on Monday, August 3rd, at 2.30 p.m., for the purpose of receiving statement of accounts and the election of six committeemen

The famous stallion Mortemer, sire of Apremont and Chamant (winner of the Two Thousand Guineas) died at the Brookdale stud farm, New Jersey, in May last. The horse was bred in France in 1865, and during his turf career, which extended over four years, he ran in fifty races, being successful twenty-six times. He won over all distances, carrying heavy imposts. As a five-year-old he secured the Stockbridge Cup, T.Y.C. in England, and returning to the Continent won five of the events in which he ran; one of the races was over two miles, and Mortemer carried lOst. 111 b. His principal success as a six-year- old was in the Ascot Gold Cup, 1871, when he beat a good field of seven. When fifteen years old he was purchased for America by Mr. Pierre Lorillard, the price being 5150g5. Mortemer changed hands again when he was twenty-one, but as he was then showing signs of age, it was at a very much reduced figure. In 1885 he was second in the winning sires of America, and his stock have always been eagerly purchased. Among other good ones got by Mortemer before he left his native land was Verneuil, winner of the Gold Vase, Gold Cup, and Alexandra Plate at Ascot, and several others who could both go fast and stay, including Chamant, winner of the Two Thousand, and St. Christophe, who won the Grand Prix de Paris, 1877, Camille, etc.

Mr. W. Proffitt, of Napier, intends being represented at the New Zealand Cup Plumpton meeting.

Mr. J. 0. Evitt has been appoihted handicapper for the Gisborne Racing Club fiff the ensuing season.

Exchange, full brother to Merrie England, has been purchased by Messrs. Stock and Conway for stud purposes, and will stand the season in the Hastings, Hawke’s Bay district.

Lcbel and Silver Knight, who were taken over to Sydney recently by Mr. G. G. stead, are both engaged in the A.J.Ci and V.R.C. Derbies, the foriner is by Ndrdfenfeldt I —Piilchrh, arid the latter by St. Ge orge—-Rupee.

Sam Fergus, who received a nasty shaking when Theorem fell in the Wellington Hurdle Race, was able to be present at the United Sunt Club’s meeting, held at Wellington on the 18th inst.

It is reported that the owners of Lucy Glitters and Dangerous have made Claims on the Manawatu Railway Company, for damages sustained by the fire in one of the horse boxes, while conveying the horses to Wellington. The steeplechaser, Omata, pulled up lame after doing his mornings work at Ellerslie one day last week. No doubt this is the cause of his owner not accepting for the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase.

His Ekcellericy the Goverribf, has hired Mr. D. H. Stewart’s (late W. Crowther) well khoWh Derby drag, and it is tb be shipped tb title Governor at Christchurch in Septembfet. This brake was in great favour with hiih ‘whilst hb was in Auckland.

The following are the amounts paid in stakes by the Auckland Trotting Club during the past season : —June £135, September Z~2 10, December and January /500, May ,£225. Total, Otahuhu, March Grand total, J&1295The time-honoured bob in. and the winner shouts bids fair to be knocked out. At the Brunswick Court last Wednesday a local publican was fined £l, with 17s. 6d. coatis, fbfc allowing dice to be used in his licensed premises for ah unlawful purpose.— Sportsman.

A pony well known in Queensland called Bush Rat won the Mite Handicap, mile, lor ponies under 13 hands, in Sydney, the other day, with 9st 71b, easily by two lengths, in 55 secs-. It is quite evident that pony races are now confined to miniature race horses.

A wire from our Taranaki correspondent, received yesterday, informs uS thatjonny, who is engaged in the Grand National Hurdle Race rind Steeplechase, is doing strong work arid jumping beautifully. Backers should make a note of this, as if fit and well on the day she will have a big chahcb ih whatever she starts in.

The Hawkes Bay Trottihg Club; which, is affiliated with the New Zealand Trottihg Association, appears to be in a flourishing condition financially, they have a credit balance of over j£Bo, besides possessing a fitst class course, on which there are a large quantity of permanent improvements. The next race meeting of this club takes place in October. The Manawatu Racing Club fepbit a credit balance of odd. This club which always liberal to owners by the way of increasing stakes, has now decided to add to 1 the Conveniences of their course by the erebtion hf '4 new grand Stand, at the cost of arid other improvements. They have also decided to extend their race meeting over tvVo ’days at Christmas time, and intend to riihke possible effort to still farther pdpulariW fdcih'g in the Manawatu district.

While the Pakuranga hounds are ih the Waikato, Mr. Garrett has instituted a Poihtto Point Steeplechase. This is a move in the right direction, and Mr. Gannett knows well what is required to bring the young blood to the front. A Point to Point Steeplechase is this : you start from a certain place arid make the best of your way to a certain point,. not going more than fifty yards along a road,;f riding ih huntirig costume; catch weights. We sincerely hope that Mr. Garrett’s first attempt at this kind of sport will prove a success, And that it will be followed up by many more of them.. ■ tic - ■ ■ , . hm

Sir,—To decide a wager could you settle the following: Five players are at Nap. the first to speak went Nap. Is it posssble to get a hand to beat a Nap hand ?—Nemo. Answer —No.

The old hurdle racer Trapper, who was shipped for Australia last week, has won in stakes during his lengthy career some £1,20 • His best days are over, and it is questionable if another good race can be got out of him.

The Auckland Racing Club are having the grass gallop at Ellerslie repaired and newly turfed. It is a pity that the Club did not take steps to have this done sooner, so as to have the track in good order for those trainers wishing to get their horses ready for early spring engagements. However, better late than never, and when finished it will make a good track.

The grand total put through the totalisators in New Zealand last season, amounted to X'650,000. It was estimated that the nett profits from this to the various clubs was the balance of the 1 o being absorbed in working the machine, the latter estimate is based on a per cent reckoning, and we know as a fact, that it is very considerably in excess of the commission obtained by the Auckland totalisator proprietors.

Bv the last mail Common was favourite . for the Doncaster St. Leger at even money; Mimi, the winner of the One Thousand and Oaks, being second in the market. The favourite s defeat the other day must not be taken into consideration, as after the Derby he would sure to have been eased up, and the 101 b penalty would have told when pitted against a good though uncertain horse like Surefoot over 1| miles.

At the invitation of Mr. Harry Walshe, we had a peep at Mr. S. C. Caulton’s Cloth or Gold, who is looking big and blooming, with every prospect of filling out, he is to be put in more active work almost immediately. Mr. Walshe has two loose boxes, and accommodation for 40 horses, at his Greyhound livery and bait stables, and on the occasion of our <visit we noticed some remarkably good cuts of horses which he keeps for hire.

• J The Canterbury Times says that Mr. Dan Thurston’s horse Dangerous has been taken back from Wellington to Palmerston North. He was very severely scorched by the fire, one leg being very badly injured. The horse has been much affected by the smoke which got into his lungs. It will be some time before the. popular old steeplechaser is in full trim again I 0 *b

“Mazeppa” of the Otago Witness is a thorough believer of The Painter’s stock, as he picks Oeo and Ahua as a double for the National meeting, Ahua being the pick of the Hurdle Race. Ahua has not accepted for the latter, but is favourite for the Steeplechase. This shows the folly of picking horses before the acceptances come out, even then there is a great amount of luck, as a great deal of crooked running is going on.

Of the several accidents that occurred at the Wellington Hunt Club gathering, H. Woods, who fractured his arm close to the wrist, through The Druid coming down, fared worst. Woods had only just recovered the uss of his right arm, which was broken by a kick received from a horse a couple of months previously. Mr. P. F. Tancred interested himself in raising a subscription for the unfortunate rider, and between £2O and £3O was collected.

We hear that George Wright has expressed himself aggrieved with a paragraph we gave publicity to about his opinions of Australian ponies making phenomenal times fetlock deep in mud, and demanded that we shall keep his name out of our paper in future. We beg to inform him that what was published was correct in every particular, and it was said in the presence of a member of our staff, and can be corroborated, and while we have not the remotest intention of offending Mr. Wright, we are quite determined to make use of his name again, or that of any other trainer, if we deem it necessary; as a means of conveying news to our sporting readers.